Pop music = huge cultural impact, esp. on young ppl.
• Rock 'n' Roll: Revolutionized youth culture. Artists like (‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ 1956), Chuck Berry (‘Maybellene,’ 1955), Little Richard (‘Tutti Frutti,’ 1955). Condemned by middle-class America as ‘devil’s music’ (eg Rev Jimmy Snow).
• California Sound: Beach Boys (‘Surfin’ USA,’ 1963) celebrated carefree youth & fun.
• Folk & : Political songs reflected 1960s activism (eg Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowin’ in the Wind,’ 1963; Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘America,’ 1968).
• British Invasion: UK bands reshaped US music. The Beatles (‘Love Me Do,’ 1962) & Rolling Stones (‘Satisfaction,’ 1965) dominated mid-1960s.
• Music Festivals: Began 1967 with (Hendrix, Joplin, The Who). Woodstock (1969) = iconic peace & music celebration.
b. YOUTH CULTURE
1950s: ‘Teenager’ emerged as a separate demographic with own style, slang & music.
• Rebellion: Teens rejected middle-class conformity. Media (eg Rebel Without a Cause, 1955; Catcher in the Rye, 1951) reflected this. The Who’s ‘My Generation’ (1965) voiced disenchantment.
• Teenspeak: Slang included ‘far-out’ (1954), ‘split’ & ‘dullsville’ (1956), ‘’ (1957). Farewells like ‘See you later, alligator’ (1954) & avoiding being a ‘cube’ (1959) = part of new teen identity.
• Students for a Democratic Society (SDS): 1962 Statement denounced racism, consumerism, & Cold War. 1960s sit-ins & Vietnam protests → 1969 riots (‘Days of Rage’) & Weather Underground bombings.
• Hippies & Drugs: Counterculture promoted peace, free love, psychedelic experiences (LSD, pot). 1967: told youth to ‘tune in, turn on, drop out’ at San Francisco’s Human Be-In.
c. SPORTS & LEISURE
• Major sports: Baseball, football, basketball v popular.
• Leisure: Suburban middle-class focus on ‘the ’: BBQs, road trips, camping & family holidays.
• Hobbies: Bowling, golf, jogging grew as middle-class activities.
d. TELEVISION
Became the dominant entertainment form by late 1950s; colour TV affordable mid-1960s.
• Social impact: Replaced fireplace as family focal point; shaped national attitudes.
• Popular shows: Sitcoms like I Love Lucy & Leave It to Beaver reflected idealized family life. programmes (eg Captain Kangaroo, Mr Rogers’ Neighbourhood) entertained children.
e. ART & LITERATURE
• Abstract Expressionism: Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko = key figures.
• Pop Art: , Roy Lichtenstein challenged artistic norms.
• ‘Beat Generation’: Writers (eg Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg) inspired 1960s counterculture, rejecting tradition.
• Marshall McLuhan: Coined ‘the medium is the message’ and predicted a tech-driven ‘global village’ based on electronic interdependence.
f. FASHION
• 1950s: Conservative styles; men wore suits, women embraced domestic/feminine dresses.
• 1960s: Youthful fashion evolved → style (mini-skirts, bold colours). Hippie movement brought tie-dye, bell bottoms & unisex clothing.
g. FILMS
• 1950s themes: Alien , teen rebellion & Cold War anxieties shaped films. Drive-ins v popular.
• : Late 1960s films aimed at youth (eg Bonnie & Clyde, 1967; Easy Rider, 1969). Gritty realism, shocking themes & anti-heroes appealed to young audiences.
a. MUSIC
Pop music = huge cultural impact, esp. on young ppl.
• Rock 'n' Roll: Revolutionized youth culture. Artists like ELVIS PRESLEY (‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ 1956), Chuck Berry (‘Maybellene,’ 1955), Little Richard (‘Tutti Frutti,’ 1955). Condemned by middle-class America as ‘devil’s music’ (eg Rev Jimmy Snow).
• California Sound: Beach Boys (‘Surfin’ USA,’ 1963) celebrated carefree youth & fun.
• Folk & PROTEST: Political songs reflected 1960s activism (eg Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowin’ in the Wind,’ 1963; Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘America,’ 1968).
• British Invasion: UK bands reshaped US music. The Beatles (‘Love Me Do,’ 1962) & Rolling Stones (‘Satisfaction,’ 1965) dominated mid-1960s.
• Music Festivals: Began 1967 with MONTEREY (Hendrix, Joplin, The Who). Woodstock (1969) = iconic peace & music celebration.
b. YOUTH CULTURE
1950s: ‘Teenager’ emerged as a separate demographic with own style, slang & music.
• Rebellion: Teens rejected middle-class conformity. Media (eg Rebel Without a Cause, 1955; Catcher in the Rye, 1951) reflected this. The Who’s ‘My Generation’ (1965) voiced disenchantment.
• Teenspeak: Slang included ‘far-out’ (1954), ‘split’ & ‘dullsville’ (1956), ‘SWINGING’ (1957). Farewells like ‘See you later, alligator’ (1954) & avoiding being a ‘cube’ (1959) = part of new teen identity.
• Students for a Democratic Society (SDS): 1962 PORT HURON Statement denounced racism, consumerism, & Cold War. 1960s sit-ins & Vietnam protests → 1969 riots (‘Days of Rage’) & Weather Underground bombings.
• Hippies & Drugs: Counterculture promoted peace, free love, psychedelic experiences (LSD, pot). 1967: TIMOTHY LEARY told youth to ‘tune in, turn on, drop out’ at San Francisco’s Human Be-In.
c. SPORTS & LEISURE
• Major sports: Baseball, football, basketball v popular.
• Leisure: Suburban middle-class focus on ‘the FAMILY’: BBQs, road trips, camping & family holidays.
• Hobbies: Bowling, golf, jogging grew as middle-class activities.
d. TELEVISION
Became the dominant entertainment form by late 1950s; colour TV affordable mid-1960s.
• Social impact: Replaced fireplace as family focal point; shaped national attitudes.
• Popular shows: Sitcoms like I Love Lucy & Leave It to Beaver reflected idealized family life. WHOLESOME programmes (eg Captain Kangaroo, Mr Rogers’ Neighbourhood) entertained children.
e. ART & LITERATURE
• Abstract Expressionism: Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko = key figures.
• Pop Art: ANDY WARHOL, Roy Lichtenstein challenged artistic norms.
• ‘Beat Generation’: Writers (eg Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg) inspired 1960s counterculture, rejecting tradition.
• Marshall McLuhan: Coined ‘the medium is the message’ and predicted a tech-driven ‘global village’ based on electronic interdependence.
f. FASHION
• 1950s: Conservative styles; men wore suits, women embraced domestic/feminine dresses.
• 1960s: Youthful fashion evolved → MOD style (mini-skirts, bold colours). Hippie movement brought tie-dye, bell bottoms & unisex clothing.
g. FILMS
• 1950s themes: Alien INVASIONS, teen rebellion & Cold War anxieties shaped films. Drive-ins v popular.
• NEW HOLLYWOOD: Late 1960s films aimed at youth (eg Bonnie & Clyde, 1967; Easy Rider, 1969). Gritty realism, shocking themes & anti-heroes appealed to young audiences.
